The Public Pulse, July 12

Death penalty is biblical justice

In response to Kate Hough’s July 6 letter on the death penalty, what kind of “oxymoron,” as she says, would let some killer of human beings be allowed to live and spend our tax money on someone who inhumanly killed someone in cold blood?

As for her religious beliefs, I am a born-again Christian and my Bible says there are consequences for our actions.

If we kill someone by a sword, we, too, will die by a sword. The only “oxymoron” is anyone believing that God lets unremorseful killers of children and women go free.

I believe lethal injection is much too nice. Killers don’t care how much their victims suffer.

Those who have had a loved one killed don’t want their tax money wasted on someone who is a ruthless killer. I don’t. I say bring back the firing squad.

Joanne Smith, Papillion

I take no pride in death penalty

I have read (July 8 news story) about the newly converted Nebraska death chamber at the Lincoln penitentiary, and the attitude seems how proud we are of ourselves. We get to legally kill again. It makes me sick to my stomach.

Marylyn Felion, Omaha

She gave more than received

I was so saddened to hear the news that Lucille Kilgore died (July 8 news story). She was a beautiful soul to the end.

Bless Ann Drozd, Lucille’s longtime friend, and her family for being there for her.

Lucille was a selfless woman who always put “her kids” first. She made a huge impact on my son’s life. I thank her for showing us what compassion, dedication and grace truly means.

On the other hand, shame on Mel Washington, who is reported to have charged more than $47,000 on Kilgore’s credit cards, forcing her into bankruptcy.

As for Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning and all those who never gave Lucille what she was awarded and truly deserved, I hope they spend their time and energy on issues other than making sure an elderly woman, who dedicated her life to our state’s problem juveniles, didn’t live out her life in the comfort her awarded wages would have allowed her.

They should be ashamed of themselves and can never justify what they did.

Lisa Baranishyn, Bellevue

Solution to I-80/680 traffic jam

I believe the northbound Interstate 680 exit at Pacific Street should be closed because it is too close to the merging point between Interstates 80 and 680.

Too many vehicles have to cross too many lanes of traffic. Vehicles coming from Interstate 80 to Interstate 680 are put directly in the lane to the Pacific Street exit.

Those who wish to take I-680 must merge with traffic to the left. Those who wish to get off on Pacific Street must merge to the right.

The result is vehicles trying to merge in two directions, causing traffic to slow way down or sometimes come to a complete stop.

My solution to the problem is to connect the West Center Road off-ramp with an overhead bridge that only goes to Pacific Street.

Jerald Aguilar, Omaha

The risks of for-profit colleges

For-profit colleges are currently being investigated by the Senate education committee and have been scrutinized by June 29 Time magazine and May 4 PBS “Frontline,” among others.

The pattern seems clear. Investors take over struggling colleges to get their accreditation. The goal is profit. They aggressively recruit with promises of accelerated degree programs and lucrative jobs.

Tuition is high so students obtain federal aid and low interest loans. The money goes directly to the school. Most classes are online, which reduces overhead.

According to a report by U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, for-profit students are graduating with higher debt than other students and nearly half default, leaving taxpayers to foot the bill. Harkin also found that for-profit schools have tremendous student turnover and high dropout rates. Students are often unable to find jobs after graduation.

The two men who would have headed Dana after the buy-out have been administrators at for-profit colleges. Within a year, Dana might have no longer been the kind of school it had been for 125 years.

The Higher Learning Commission should be thanked for caring about Dana students.

Dee Kraut, Fremont, Neb.

Contraception argument falters

In her July 8 Midlands Voices essay, Maris Bentley makes a number of interesting points about pregnancy, sexuality and birth control.

However, her credibility falters when she asserts that “contraception literally means ‘against life.’ ”

While the prefix “contra-” does mean “against,” the base of the word, “-ception,” is a shortening of “conception,” which derives from the Latin word concipere (to form, devise, understand, take in), which in turn derives from the Latin capere (to take, take hold, seize, grasp).

Contraception meaning against life? Figuratively, perhaps, but not literally.

Doug Deden, Omaha

Leadership seems questionable

In a recent interview, Charles Bolden (NASA’s chief administrator) stated that his “perhaps foremost” mission is to improve relations with the Muslim world.

Pardon me for asking, but what does this have to do with space exploration? The last time I checked, NASA’s primary mission is space exploration, not foreign policy.

I believe Mr. Bolden is yet another incompetent bureaucrat chosen by our inept President Barack Obama.

No wonder with Obama’s and Bolden’s leadership, we will be without a space shuttle soon and no replacement in sight.

Once again, the United States relinquishes another technological leadership position in the world. Now that’s change!

Lou Totilas, Kimballton, Iowa

Neighbors opposing pharmacy

I wish the people of Dundee good luck in fighting the CVS Pharmacy planned for their neighborhood in Omaha.

If they wish to see their fate, they should take a drive to Bellevue and view the corner of Galvin Road and Pelton Avenue. The residents there fought against the CVS Pharmacy across the street from Walgreens.

The elected City Council member said the number of calls against the plan were more than those in favor of it, but she voted for it anyway.

The greed of elected officials to say, “Look what I brought to your neighborhood,” will outweigh any protests.

The Bellevue neighbors of the new CVS will soon have the horror that Dundee neighbors are worried about.

Mary Ann Semin, Bellevue

Our pride is flag, not fireworks

One would think that with all of the money people spend on fireworks that a few more people could invest in a 3-foot-by-5-foot flag kit to put on their house.

This way they could show some real patriotism and respect to all of our fallen veterans and current veterans serving in the military.

Instead, it seems it’s all about who has the biggest and baddest fireworks. Fireworks are illegal in Omaha.

Wayne E. Sund, Fremont, Neb.

Evolution came after creation

Levi Todd’s July 6 letter is correct that creation and evolution are not comparable explanations of our origins.

Strictly speaking, creation deals with the coming into being of all matter and energy, about which evolution has nothing to say, except a “Big Bang” must have happened.

Evolution, on the other hand, pertains to changes taking place in the matter and energy already present after the act or acts of creation.

Furthermore, all creationists believe in microevolution — the demonstrable change in gene frequencies within a population.

It is that version of macroevolution, which claims that all life developed by unguided impersonal natural forces, that is mainly objectionable.

This extrapolation is unprovable and constitutes the real danger to those who have been “endowed by our Creator” with inalienable rights.

Regarding Todd’s assertion that not believing in Darwinian evolution is unscientific, the website www.dissentfromdarwin.org lists many hundreds of practicing scientists who are skeptical of the ability of Darwinism to account for the complexity of life.

Renwick Adams, Clarinda, Iowa

Even court can’t stop prejudice

Tribune Media Services columnist Cal Thomas’ July 6 essay would have us believe something was taken away from the Christian Legal Society and Christians, in general. Nothing could be further from the truth.

This group was simply held in check by the U.S. Supreme Court. Any religion or religious group can still practice discrimination in the United States. That is protected by the First Amendment. They just can’t do it in the realm of public education.

The saddest thing about this is this group is only hurting itself. They don’t seem to underestimate most homosexuals, like their heterosexual counterparts, in this country are Christians. Many are probably better Christians than they could ever hope to be.

Stanley Gocek, Blair, Neb.

Miss some things, but not others

We have lived near Rosenblatt Stadium for nearly 30 years. During those years, we have seen attendance at these two events grow to what they are today.

We have made many out-of-town friends over the years and will miss them and a great view of the fireworks.

The homey neighborhood atmosphere will not be present at the new downtown ballpark. What we won’t miss is the trash that has been prevalent over the years.

So, on one hand, we say farewell to Rosenblatt and, on the other hand, good riddance.

Bill and Patricia McCollum, Omaha

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